*Crime, Spies & Sleaze: Edmund Crispin (real name Robert Bruce Montgomery) was a celebrated author, critic and composer (he wrote the film scores for several early Carry On films, among many others and edited science-fiction anthologies). His detective fiction featured his creation Gervase Fen, who starred in novels and short story collections, written mostly in the 1940s and 50s. Fen is a mercurial, eccentric university professor with a penchant for solving the most unlikely mysteries, which Crispin writes in a humorous, literary and sometimes farcical style. The plots are intricate, fantastic and almost unbelievable, but hugely entertaining. The Moving Toyshop was the first Fen novel I read, and I perceived that Fen was a likely inspiration for the character of Dr Who; I have since learned that others have also made that comparison. We’re delighted to have five Fen novels new in this week, all published by Four Square in a handsome matching edition in 1965/66. 
PICTURED: ALL BY EDMUND CRISPIN ALL SOLD
THE CASE OF THE GILDED FLY Four Square 1965 UK PB VG £6
FREQUENT HEARSES Four Square 1965 UK PB VG £6
HOLY DISORDERS Four Square 1965 UK PB GD/VG £5
THE MOVING TOYSHOP Four Square 1965 UK PB VG £6
SWAN SONG Four Square 1966 UK PB VG £6